Article carrier with adjustably positionable bracket

Abstract

An article carrier for mounting on a substantially flat exterior surface of a motor vehicle. The article carrier has two slat assemblies fixedly secured to the motor vehicle surface in a spaced apart, parallel relationship. Each slat assembly has at least one longitudinal rib. At least two pairs of brackets are provided, two brackets being removably and slidably fastened to the rib of each of the slat assemblies. A locking mechanism depending from the bracket is provided for securing the bracket in a fixed position along the slat assembly by clamping the rib between the bracket and a clamping member. One rail is supported by each pair of brackets to extend transversely therebetween above the surface.

What is claimed as novel is as follows: 
     
       1. An article carrier for mounting on a surface of a motor vehicle, said article carrier comprising two tracks fixedly secured to said surface in a spaced apart parallel relationship, a longitudinal rib extending from each track, two brackets slidably secured to each of said tracks, two rails, each of said rails extending transversely between one of said brackets on one of said tracks and one of said brackets on the other of said tracks, said rails being fastened to said brackets such as to be supported above said surface, a resilient clamping plate disposed adjacent to said rib, a pin fastened to said plate, said pin having at its end furthest from said clamping plate a cylindrical member joined at right angles to said pin, a toggle arm having a linear passageway to pivotably mount said cylindrical member, and said pin passing through said toggle arm from said cylindrical member to said clamping plate, said toggle arm having a camming extension on a surface thereof in contact with the surface of said bracket whereby as said toggle arm is pivoted, said camming extension causes said toggle arm to draw said pin and urge said plate against said rib thereby clamping said rib between said plate and said bracket to fixedly secure said bracket to said rib. 
     
     
       2. The article carrier of claim 1 further comprising aligning means inhibiting rotation of said bracket about any axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said slat. 
     
     
       3. The article carrier of claim 1 wherein each of said tracks comprises a horizontal base, two substantially vertical longitudinal webs and a pair of substantially horizontal inwardly facing ribs such that said base, said webs, and said ribs together form an upwardly oriented C-shaped slideway having an inside and outside, said bracket being adjacent to both of said ribs outside of said slideway and further wherein said clamping means comprises a plate disposed inside said slideway whereby when said toggle arm is selectively operated said clamping plate simultaneously clamps both of said ribs. 
     
     
       4. The article carrier of claim 1 wherein said toggle arm exerts a maximum amount of tension force on said pin at an intermediate position of said toggle arm such that an exertion of force is required to move said toggle arm from either of the two extreme positions of its travel. 
     
     
       5. The article carrier of claim 1 further comprising aligning means fastened to each of said brackets inhibiting rotation of said bracket about any axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said slat. 
     
     
       6. The article carrier of claim 1 further comprising a cavity in said bracket and wherein said toggle is disposed partly outside of said cavity in said one extreme position and is disposed totally within a cavity in said bracket in said other extreme positions. 
     
     
       7. The article carrier of claim 1 further comprising a tie ring aperture in each said bracket. 
     
     
       8. An article carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said pin has a threaded upper end threadably and adjustably connected to said cylindrical member for adjusting the distance of said clamping plate from said cylindrical member.